BETAMETHASONE SODIUM PHOSPHATE AND BETAMETHASONE ACETATE- betamethasone acetate and betamethasone sodium phosphate injection, suspension
American Regent, Inc.
30 mg/5 mL (6 mg per mL)
Betamethasone Sodium Phosphate and Betamethasone Acetate Injectable Suspension, USP is a sterile aqueous suspension containing betamethasone 3 mg per milliliter as betamethasone sodium phosphate, and betamethasone acetate 3 mg per milliliter.
Betamethasone sodium phosphate is a white to practically white, odorless powder, and is hygroscopic. It is freely soluble in water and in methanol, but is practically insoluble in acetone and in chloroform.
Betamethasone acetate is a white to creamy white, odorless powder that sinters and resolidifies at about 165�C, and remelts at about 200�C to 220�C with decomposition. It is practically insoluble in water, but freely soluble in acetone, and is soluble in alcohol and in chloroform.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Betamethasone Sodium Phosphate and Betamethasone Acetate Injectable Suspension is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to any components of this product.
Intramuscular corticosteroid preparations are contraindicated for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.
WARNINGS
Betamethasone Sodium Phosphate and Betamethasone Acetate Injectable Suspension should not be administered intravenously.
PRECAUTIONS
General
This product, like many other steroid formulations, is sensitive to heat. Therefore, it should not be autoclaved when it is desirable to sterilize the exterior of the vial.
The lowest possible dose of corticosteroid should be used to control the condition under treatment. When reduction in dosage is possible, the reduction should be gradual.
Since complications of treatment with glucocorticoids are dependent on the size of the dose and the duration of treatment, a risk/benefit decision must be made in each individual case as to dose and duration of treatment and as to whether daily or intermittent therapy should be used.
Kaposi's sarcoma has been reported to occur in patients receiving corticosteroid therapy, most often for chronic conditions. Discontinuation of corticosteroids may result in clinical improvement.
Cardio-Renal
As sodium retention with resultant edema and potassium loss may occur in patients receiving corticosteroids, these agents should be used with caution in patients with congestive heart failure, hypertension, or renal insufficiency.
Endocrine
Drug-induced secondary adrenocortical insufficiency may be minimized by gradual reduction of dosage. This type of relative insufficiency may persist for months after discontinuation of therapy. Therefore, in any situation of stress occurring during that period, naturally occurring glucocorticoids (hydrocortisone cortisone), which also have salt-retaining properties, rather than betamethasone, are the appropriate choices as replacement therapy in adrenocorticoal deficiency states.
